ROLAND NILSSON is set to take charge of the Sky Blues as full-time manager tonight....

ROLAND NILSSON is set to take charge of the Sky Blues as full-time manager tonight.

The Swede was offered a three-year deal by the club yesterday and was expected to give his answer to chairman Bryan Richardson ahead of tonight's Worthington Cup clash with Chelsea at Highfield Road (7.45pm).

Although Nilsson was playing it coyly at his pre-match press conference, there seems little doubt that the 37-year-old will accept the job after steering City to six games without defeat.

He also appears to be the fans' choice and crucially has the backing of the players who have turned things around under his guidance.

"The ball is in my court," revealed Nilsson, who admits he may quit playing full-time if he takes the job.

"I started talks with the chairman on Monday morning and he made me an offer of the rest of this year and two more years on top of that and now we will have to see how it goes.

"We may go backwards and forwards a couple of times but I hope to give my answer before the match, and certainly before Sunday's game because we don't want this dragging on.

"But we are winning, I am enjoying it and the players have all done well for me.

"From the start I wondered how they would react but I got the response I wanted after the first couple of sessions and it has just kept going.

"We have a good team spirit and our aim is to get promotion, whether that be automatic or through the play-offs."

And Nilsson admitted that the question of having money to spend on players was not a factor that he was considering, while the issue of his backroom staff will come after he has made his decision.

"There is not any money at the moment but I have known that for a while, so that is nothing new," he said.

"As for Richard Money and Ray Clarke, they will have separate talks with the chairman as soon as they know my position."

He added: "I have discussed whether or not I should carry on playing and the decision is down to me.

"But if I am going to be manager it will be harder for me to play because you have to be careful that you do not pick yourself just because you like playing.

"You also need a bit of distance between yourself and the players. But if I decide not to play, I will still keep myself fit and registered and possibly play a few reserve games but we will just have to wait and see."

Although City are unsure of the strength of Chelsea's side for tonight's third round televised tie, Nilsson is planning to field his strongest available team.

That should include Mo Konjic, who recovered from a shoulder injury to captain Bosnia to victory and score a goal at the weekend, and Gary Breen who recovered from a hamstring strain to help the Republic of Ireland beat Cyprus.

Also back in the frame are Ysrael Zuniga, Marcus Hall, David Thompson, Jay Bothroyd and Tomas Antonelius, while Magnus Hedman, who kept yet another clean sheet for Sweden at the weekend, has recovered from a bug.

But Andy Goram, who did so well against Gillingham, is out for at least two weeks with a groin strain he picked up in training, leaving youth team keeper Gary Montgomery to take a place on the senior bench.

Morten Hyldgaard is also injured and City are considering trying to get experienced cover on loan for the weekend.

Lee Hughes, meanwhile, will miss tonight's game due to a badly bruised shin but is expected to be fit for Sunday's trip to Walsall.

Julian Joachim and John Eustace remain longer-term casualties, while Nilsson himself is still struggling to shake off a knock and will not play tonight. Paul Williams is nursing a back injury.